Child resistant assembly for child vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A child restraint assembly for a child vehicle seat includes a buckle assembly including a buckle and a pair of latches, a harness coupled to the buckle assembly, and a harness adjuster to adjust the harness. The child restraint assembly also can include a chest clip coupled to the harness. The chest clip can include a male member and a female member releasably coupled to the male member. The male member can have a pair of opposing grip surfaces of sufficient thickness to enable a user to grip the male member when decoupling the male member and the female member. The chest clip can also have a finger grip configured to grip and move the chest clip to a desired location along the harness.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/822,862, filed on Apr. 13, 2004, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a child restraint assembly for a child vehicleseat. More specifically, this invention relates to a child restraintassembly that is efficient and intuitive to operate.

2. Background of the Invention

Child restraint assemblies for child vehicle seats typically include achest clip positionable at the child's armpit level, a buckle assemblypositionable between the child's thighs, a harness adjuster positionedat a front, lower edge of the vehicle seat, and straps of webbing tosecure the child in place in the vehicle seat. Shoulder straps arethreaded through the chest clip and are coupled to latches of the buckleassembly. Waist straps, which can be integral with or separate from theshoulder straps, also are coupled to the latches of the buckle assembly.A short strap attaches the buckle of the buckle assembly to the vehicleseat shell. Finally, a long, adjustment strap is connected to theshoulder and waist straps behind the rear surface of the vehicle seatand then extends through the harness adjuster to the front of thevehicle seat, where it can be pulled to tighten the shoulder and waiststraps. These assemblies can be present in infant carrier vehicle seats,in convertible vehicle seats for older children, and in harness boosterseats.

Chest clips and buckle assemblies on the market today require a user tograsp them from behind to operate them. Accordingly, it is difficult toopen, close, and adjust the chest clips and buckle assemblies while achild is in the vehicle seat because the user must pass his fingersbetween the back surface of the clip or buckle and the front of thechild. Gripping the clip or the buckle assembly in this manner can beuncomfortable for the child, as well as awkward for the user.

In addition, new parents and caregivers have many new responsibilitiesand tasks to learn with the arrival of a child, such as how to operateplay pens, swings, bouncy seats, toys, and, of course, child vehicleseats. As for the last of these, children must be installed properly andsecurely in the vehicle seat for their safety. At times, hassled parentsand caregivers may become confused about how to secure the childrestraint assembly properly. Further, the controls for the childrestraint assemblies on different vehicle seats look and operatedifferently, adding to the users' confusion and the potential misuse ofthose assemblies.

Thus, there is a need for a child restraint assembly that is simple touse and understand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a chest clip ofa child restraint assembly for a child vehicle seat is provided. Thechest clip includes a first engagement member including a bodypresenting a side surface. A second engagement member includes a bodypresenting a side surface. The first and second engagement members areadapted to releasably engage each other and the side surfaces of thefirst and second engagement members face each other when the engagementmembers are engaged. A finger grip is carried by one of the engagementmembers and spans across the side surfaces of the first and secondengagement members when the first and second engagement members areengaged.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description; serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a child vehicle seat that employsa child restraint assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a chest clip of the childrestraint assembly and shows a user unlatching the chest clip from thefront of the chest clip

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the chest clip.

FIG. 4 is a is a front perspective view of a buckle assembly of thechild restraint assembly and shows a user unlatching the buckle assemblyfrom the front of the buckle assembly.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a harness adjuster of the childrestraint assembly and shows a user actuating the harness adjuster toadjust the tightness of the harness.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the harness adjuster.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of the harness adjuster.

FIG. 8 is a top plan, exploded view of the male member and the femalemember of the chest clip in an unlatched state.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a portion of the vehicle seatshell and shows a pocket into which the harness adjuster can be mounted.

FIG. 10 is a perspective, exploded view of the male member and thefemale member of the chest clip in an unlatched state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodimentsof the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbersthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a child seat 10 that employs a child restraintassembly in accordance with the invention. The child restraint assemblygenerally includes a chest clip 100, a buckle assembly 200, a harnessadjuster 300, and a harness 400 that is threaded through the chest clip100 and the buckle assembly 200 and that is adjustable via the harnessadjuster 300.

The chest clip 100 and the buckle assembly 200 are configured so that auser can easily unlatch the chest clip 100 and buckle assembly 200 bycontacting only the front and/or grip surfaces of these components tounlatch them. The grip surfaces can comprise part of the front surfacesof these components, or they can comprise side surfaces of thecomponents. Also, the chest clip 100 can be adjusted up or down, to aproper position between a child's armpits, by only gripping the frontand/or finger grips of the chest clip 100. The finger grips of the chestclip can be formed on the front surface of the chest clip. Because theuser need not contact the rear surfaces of the chest clip 100 or thebuckle assembly 200, he can avoid inserting his fingers between thesecomponents and a child sitting in the vehicle seat. Accordingly,manipulation of the chest clip 100 and the buckle assembly 200 is morecomfortable for the child and less awkward for the user. Similarly, theharness adjuster 300 is configured so that a user can actuate theadjuster 300 to adjust the harness by contacting only the front and/orgrip surfaces of the adjuster 300. The grip surfaces of the adjuster 300can comprise part of the front surface of the adjuster 300, or they cancomprise side surfaces of the adjuster 300.

In addition, the buckle assembly 200 and the harness adjuster 300 areprovided with a common user interface and move in the same generaldirection during actuation so that operation of the components is userfriendly, instructional, and intuitive. The chest clip 100, the buckleassembly 200, and the harness adjuster 300 are provided with visibleuser cues, for example, graphics, parts shapes, and/or instructionalicons, to direct proper assembly and usage.

FIGS. 1-3, 8, and 10 illustrate an embodiment of chest clip 100 inaccordance with the invention. The chest clip 100 generally includes amale member 102 and a female member 104. The male and female members102, 104 are adapted to matingly engage to lock the chest clip 100 infront of a child seated in the vehicle seat 10. The female member 104includes a pair of opposing finger grips 106 a, 106 b to enable a userto grip the front surface 108 and position the chest clip 100 at aproper location relative to a child seated in the vehicle seat 10. Thefinger grips 106 a, 106 b can be depressions formed at opposing edges ofthe front surface 108 of the chest clip 100, as shown in FIG. 3.Alternatively, opposing finger grips can be provided by protuberances onthe front surface 108 of the female member 104. In other alternativeembodiments, the finger grips can be provided by depressions orprotuberances on the front surface of the male member 102 or bydepressions or protuberances on side surfaces of the female or malemembers 102, 104.

The female member 104 has a raised portion 110 that is centrally locatedon the chest clip 100 when the male and female members 102, 104 areengaged, as seen in FIG. 2. The raised portion 110 and finger grips 106a, 106 b form a generally circular, medallion-like piece at the centerof the engaged chest clip 100. One of the finger grips 106 a can belocated at an upper edge of the raised portion 110, and the other of thefinger grips 106 b can be located at the lower edge of the raisedportion 110. The finger grips 106 a, 106 b are designed to provide gripsfor a user's thumb and forefinger so that the user can slide the chestclip 100 along the shoulder straps 410 of the harness 400 to its properposition relative to the child's armpits.

An instructional icon 112 can be printed on the front surface of theraised portion 110 to visually cue a user that the chest clip 100 shouldbe positioned between the armpits of the child. The instructional icon112 can be printed on the chest clip 100 by embossing, engraving,painting, stamping, or any other conventional printing method. Theinstructional icon 112 is strategically located on the raised portion110 so that it can be seen when the user grips the finger grips 106 a,106 b to adjust the chest clip 100.

In addition to instructional icon 112, the chest clip 100 can includecompany web site information printed on a front surface 107, 108 ofeither the male or female member 102, 104. FIG. 3 shows the company website engraved on the front surface of the male member 102. Like theinstructional icon 112, the web site information can be printed on thechest clip 100 by embossing, engraving, painting, stamping, or any otherconventional printing method. The web site information serves as anreminder to a user of where the user can look for additional productinformation.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the chest clip 100. The malemember 102 generally includes a main body 120, a pair of extension arms122 that each terminate in a tang 124, a release actuator 126 on eacharm 122, and slots 128 through which a respective shoulder strap of theharness can be threaded. The female member 104 generally includes a mainbody 140, a socket (not shown) through the main body 140 for receipt ofthe arms 122 of the male member 102, the finger grips 106 a, 106 b andthe raised portion 110, openings 142 for receipt of the releaseactuators 126, and slots 144 through which a respective shoulder strapof the harness can be threaded. The male and female members 102, 104 areshaped to communicate to a user that the two members interlock.

The male member 102 also includes opposing grip surfaces 150 ofsufficient thickness to enable a user to grip the male member, whileactuating the release actuators 126, to decouple the male and femalemembers 102, 104 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. The grip surfaces 150 cancomprise side surfaces of the male member 102. In the illustratedembodiment, the grip surfaces 150 extend from the top of the respectiveslots 128 toward the front surface 107 of the male member. As seen inFIG. 10, a curved portion connects each grip surface 150 of thisembodiment to the front surface 107; however, in other embodiments, thegrip surfaces 150 may merge directly into the front surface 107. Thegrip surfaces 150 can have a thickness or depth of at least ⅜ of aninch. The presence of grip surfaces 150 means that the chest clip 100can be latched and unlatched by a user without insertion of the user'sfingers between the rear of the chest clip 100 and the child. The useralso can grip opposing grip surfaces 152 on the female member 102 ifnecessary to facilitate adjustment or decoupling of the chest clip 100.

FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of buckle assembly 200 inaccordance with the invention. The buckle assembly 200 includes a buckle204 and at least one latch, and, in the illustrated embodiment, a pairof latches 202. The buckle 204 is adapted to releasably engage the pairof latches 202. The shoulder straps 410 of the harness 400 are coupledto the latches 202. Waist straps 420 also are coupled to the latches202, and these waist straps 420 can be integral with the shoulder straps410, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, or separate from the shoulder straps410. The buckle 204 is coupled to the vehicle seat shell via a shortstrap of webbing 430, as shown in FIG. 1.

The buckle 204 includes a buckle actuator 206 that is movable between afirst position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a second position to unlock thelatches 202 from the buckle 204. FIG. 4 shows a user slidably moving thebuckle actuator 206 from the first position toward the second position.The buckle also includes a grip surface 208 of sufficient thickness toenable a user to brace a finger against the buckle grip surface 208 whenactuating the buckle actuator 206. As shown in FIG. 4, the user canbrace the knuckle of a forefinger against the grip surface 208 and,using his thumb, slide the buckle actuator 206 from the first positionto the second position. In this manner, the user need not insert hisfingers between the buckle 204 and the child. The grip surface 208 canbe a lower, side surface of the buckle 204 and can be contoured. Thegrip surface 208 can include a medial portion 210 flanked by two angledportions 212, in a “chin” shape, so that either a left-handed orright-handed user can easily actuate the buckle actuator 206. As can beseen from FIG. 4, the buckle actuator 206 slides toward the contouredgrip surface 208 when moved from the first position to the secondposition.

The buckle 204 includes a front surface 214 having a recessed area(obscured by the buckle actuator 206), and the buckle actuator 206 islocated in the recessed area. The recessed area can include an aperturethrough which the buckle actuator 206 extends. An internal bucklelatching mechanism and corresponding latches suitable for use with theinvention are manufactured by AMSAFE.

The buckle actuator 206 can include a directional icon 216 to indicatethe direction of movement of the buckle actuator 206 from the firstposition to the second position. The directional icon 216 of thisembodiment is an arrow, although other directional icons can beenvisioned. The directional icon 216 allows users to intuit how tounlock the buckle assembly 200.

The buckle actuator 206 can include a tactile pad 218 to prevent auser's thumb from slipping off of the actuator 206 when unlocking thebuckle assembly 200. The pad 218 can be formed of a soft plasticmaterial molded or adhered to the harder plastic material of theremaining part of the actuator 206. The pad 218 can be coloreddifferently from the remaining part of the actuator 206 and from thebuckle 204 so that the button actuator 206 is visually distinct; forexample, the pad 218 can be red and the remaining part of the actuator206 and the buckle 204 can be grey. The buckle actuator 206 can have ahemispherical or padlock shape to suggest proper thumb placement to auser.

In addition, the buckle 204 can have rounded edges so that the buckle204 does not pinch the child or otherwise cause discomfort to the child.The angled portions 212 of the contoured grip surface 208 also serve tominimize pinching or rubbing of the buckle 204 against the child'sthighs, as can be understood from in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 5-7 illustrate an embodiment of the harness adjuster 300,which is used to adjust the tightness of the harness of the childrestraint assembly. The harness adjuster 300 includes a housing 302,through which a harness adjuster strap 304 extends, and a harnessadjuster actuator 306. The harness adjuster actuator 306 is movablebetween a first position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a second positionrelative to a front surface 308 of the housing 302 to unlock the harnessadjuster and allow adjustment of the harness. FIG. 5 shows a user movingthe harness adjuster actuator 306 from the first position toward thesecond position. Movement of the harness adjuster actuator 306 from thefirst position to the second position occurs in the same direction asmovement of the buckle actuator 206 from the first position to thesecond position. Because the harness adjuster actuator 306 and thebuckle actuator 206 have generally the same signature geometry andactuation operation, a user has a very small learning curve tounderstand how to operate the child restraint assembly properly.

The front surface 308 of the housing 302 has a recessed area 310, asshown in FIG. 7, and the harness adjuster actuator 306 is mounted withinthe recessed area 310. The recessed area 310, includes an aperture 312through which the harness adjuster actuator 306 extends. The recessedarea 310 of the harness adjuster housing 302 is sufficiently recessedfrom the front surface 308 of the housing 302 to ensure that a childcannot inadvertently actuate the harness adjuster actuator 306 byswinging its feet.

The harness adjuster actuator 306 includes a directional icon 316 toindicate the direction of movement of the harness adjuster actuator 306from the first position to the second position. The directional icon 316of this embodiment is an arrow, although other directional icons can beenvisioned. The directional icon 316 allows users to intuit how tounlock the harness adjuster 300.

Like the buckle actuator 206, the harness adjuster actuator 306 caninclude a tactile pad 318 to provide a soft feel and to prevent a user'sthumb from slipping off of the actuator 306 when unlocking the harnessadjuster 300. The pad 318 can be colored differently from the remainingpart of the harness adjuster actuator 306; for example, the pad 318 canbe yellow and remaining part of the actuator 306 can be grey. Theactuator 306 can have a hemispherical or padlock shape to suggest properthumb placement to a user.

The housing 302 of the harness adjuster 300 can have rounded edges tominimize abrasive contact with the child's legs. The housing 302 alsocan include a grip surface 320 of sufficient thickness to provide a gripagainst which a user can brace a finger. The grip surface 320 can be alower, side surface of the housing 302, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Ascan be seen from FIG. 5, the configuration of the harness adjuster 300enables the user to position his hand in the same position to eitheractuate the actuator 306 to loosen the harness 400 or to grip and pullthe strap 304 to tighten the harness 400. Accordingly, thisconfiguration is a motion-efficient design.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the harness adjuster 300 is configured toslide into place in a snap-fit in a pocket 502 formed in the vehicleseat shell 500. The housing 302 has side flaps 330 that latch behindshoulders 504 in the pocket 502.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional view of the harness adjuster 300. Theharness adjuster actuator 306 normally is biased to the first positionby a spring 332, where a lower lip 334 of the actuator 306 seats againsta shoulder 336 of the housing 302. As can be seen from FIG. 8, when auser actuates the harness adjuster actuator 306, the actuator 306pivots, and a tail 338 of the actuator 306 pushes up against a lockdevice 340 to move a toothed surface 342 of the lock device 340 awayfrom strap 304 (not shown in FIG. 7). One suitable lock device 340 ismanufactured by Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Inc.

The preferred embodiments have been set forth herein for the purpose ofillustration. This description, however, should not be deemed to be alimitation on the scope of the invention. Various modifications,adaptations, and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the claimed inventive concept. The true scope andspirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

1. A chest clip of a child restraint assembly for a child vehicle seat,the chest clip comprising: a first engagement member including a bodypresenting a side surface; a second engagement member including a bodypresenting a side surface, wherein the first and second engagementmembers are adapted to releasably engage each other and the sidesurfaces of the first and second engagement members face each other whenthe engagement members are engaged; and a finger grip carried by one ofthe engagement members and configured for gripping to move the chestclip along the shoulder harness to a desired location relative to achild seated in the child vehicle seat, the finger grip spanning acrossthe side surfaces of the first and second engagement members when thefirst and second engagement members are engaged, the one engagementmember having a front surface facing away from the child vehicle seat,wherein the finger grip comprises a protuberance disposed on the frontsurface of the one engagement member.
 2. The chest clip as recited inclaim 1, wherein the finger grip comprises a depression formed in anupward facing surface of the protuberance.
 3. The chest clip as recitedin claim 1, wherein the finger grip comprises a concavity formed in adownward facing surface of the protuberance.
 4. The chest clip asrecited in claim 1, wherein the protuberance defines an upward-facingsurface and a downward-facing surface and the finger grip is on thedownward facing surface, the chest clip further comprising a secondfinger grip on the upward facing surface.
 5. The chest clip as recitedin claim 1, wherein the finger grip comprises a depression on an upwardfacing surface of the protuberance and another depression on a downwardfacing surface of the protuberance.
 6. A chest clip of a child restraintassembly for a child vehicle seat, the chest clip comprising: a firstengagement member; a second engagement member, wherein the first andsecond engagement members are adapted to releasably engage each other,and each engagement member includes a body defining an inner sidesurface such that the side surfaces of each engagement member face eachother when the engagement members are engaged; a release actuatorpositioned on the chest clip and configured to disengage the engagementmembers; and a finger grip carried on one of the engagement memberbodies and configured for gripping to move the chest clip along theshoulder harness to a desired location relative to a child seated in thechild vehicle seat, wherein gripping the finger grip and moving thechest clip does not disengage the engagement members.
 7. The chest clipas recited in claim 6, wherein the finger grip comprises a depressionformed in the one engagement member body.
 8. The chest clip as recitedin claim 6, wherein each engagement member defines an upward-facingsurface and a downward-facing surface, and the finger grip is carried bythe downward facing surface, the chest clip further comprising a secondfinger grip carried by the upward-facing surface.
 9. The chest clip asrecited in claim 6, wherein each body defines a rear surface facing thechild vehicle seat and a front surface facing away from the childvehicle seat, and the finger grip comprises a protuberance disposed onthe front surface of the engagement member body that carries the fingergrip.
 10. The chest clip as recited in claim 6, wherein one of thebodies of the engagement members comprises a rear surface facing thechild vehicle seat and a front surface facing away from the childvehicle seat, and a raised portion carded by the front surface of thebody, the raised portion defining the depression.
 11. The chest clip asrecited in claim 6, wherein the release actuator is positioned remotelyfrom the finger grip on the chest clip.
 12. A chest clip of a childrestraint assembly for a child vehicle seat, the chest clip comprising:a first engagement member defining at least one opening operable toreceive a shoulder harness and having a rear surface facing the childvehicle seat and a front surface facing away from the child vehicleseat; a second engagement member defining at least one opening operableto receive a shoulder harness, wherein the first and second engagementmembers are adapted to releasably engage each other; a raised portioncarried on the front surface of the first engagement member and definingan upwardly-facing surface and a downwardly-facing surface; and a fingergrip configured for engagement to move the chest clip along the shoulderharness to a desired location relative to a child seated in the childvehicle seat, wherein the finger grip comprises a depression formed ineach of the downwardly-facing and upwardly-facing surfaces of the raisedportion, the depressions at least partially disposed between theopenings of the first and second engagement members when the engagementmembers are engaged.
 13. The chest clip as recited in claim 12, whereinthe depressions are contained between the openings of the first andsecond engagement members when the engagement members are engaged. 14.The chest clip as recited in claim 12, wherein the engagement membersdefine corresponding side surfaces that face each other when theengagement members are engaged, and the depressions span across the sidesurfaces when the engagement members are engaged.
 15. The chest clip asrecited in claim 14, wherein the depressions are continuous across theside surfaces.
 16. The chest clip as recited in claim 12, wherein thedepressions are arcuate in shape.
 17. The chest clip as recited in claim12, wherein each depression has a depth of at least ⅜ of an inch. 18.The chest clip as recited in claim 12, wherein the one of the engagementmembers includes a surface having a web site address disposed thereon.